Education
BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, 2013
ME, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2017
PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 2019
Research Interests
Extracellular matrix, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomaterials synthesis and formulation, rheology of fluids and hydrogels, peptide chemistry and functionalization, bioactive stability and analytical testing
Research Summary
Bioengineered tissues hold significant therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine and offer value in vitro as tools for basic research, product development, and precision and personalized medical testing. With a 3D printer, it is possible to build tissue-specific and even patient-specific physical structures. However, bioprinting tissues has unique challenges as it requires materials to create an initial signal context for cells to maintain their programmed functions and coordinate the formation of tissues. In native tissues, extracellular matrix (ECM) can trigger complex positional responses, influencing cells to migrate, replicate, and adapt their programmed functions through specific presentations of mechanical and bioactive properties. While bioadhesive features are critical to the regulatory functions of most ECM molecules, they also complicate the use of ECM or ECM derivatives in 3D printing. Non-cell-adhesive biomaterials are advantageous to pattern specific signal features while limiting non-specific interactions, which precludes most native ECM components. One notable exception is hyaluronic acid. The focus of my research is to engineer a hydrogel-forming “bioink” system from modified components of native ECM, including hyaluronic acid, collagens, peptide-ligands, and other biologics. This work investigates several strategies to independently control the mechanical and bioactive features of the system across multiple time and length scales. Like a traditional printer ink system which relies on four pigments to produce the entire color spectrum, the goal of this research is to create a user-friendly bioink system to formulate a spectrum of initial signal features in engineered ECM, and ultimately, allow biology to take over.
Awards & Honors
Graduate Training in Emerging Areas of Precision & Personalized Medicine Fellowship
Rutgers-NIH Biotechnology Training Fellowship, University of Miami President’s Scholarship
Publications
Godesky, MD and Shreiber, DI. (2019) Hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with independently tunable mechanical and bioactive signaling features. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Godesky, MD and Shreiber, DI. (2019) A hyaluronic acid-based bioink for cell encapsulation in tunable hydrogels. Manuscript in preparation.
Representative Graduate Courses Taken
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Adult & Stem Cell Dynamics
Biomaterials & Biomechanics
Biophysical Chemistry
BME Math Modeling
Kinetics, Thermodynamics, & Transport Theory
Leadership & Outreach
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates Research Mentor
NIH-Rutgers University Biotechnology Training Program Advisory Board Member
Undergraduate Senior Design Project Coordinator and Research Mentor